Husseinisdoingfine

This is a tribute to Leo's recent blog post. https://www.actualized.org/insights/more-conformity-examples Post more examples of conformity, and discuss it here.

Hey all. I received an acceptance letter for my second retreat. From December 20 - 27, I'm embarking on a Brahmavihara Meditation Retreat. Its hosted by Buddhist Monks from Taiwan, and I'm really excited. Here's the description from my acceptance letter: Loving-Kindness, Compassion, Empathetic Joy, and Equanimity Meditation, collectively known as Brahmavihara (Divine Abidings), sometimes known as Appamanna (Four Immeasurable Minds), is one of the oldest and most popular meditation methods during Buddha's time. According to the Path of Purification (Visudhimagga), the practice of Brahmavihāra is considered as one of the three universal practices that all cultivators must be trained on; as it eliminates ill will, calms anxiety, and fosters harmony in a community. Not only does this method helps to develop samadhi (concentration), but also resolves interpersonal issues making it the most suitable method for laypeople. This method also accumulates experience and skills that serve as a bedrock for insight meditation (vipassana). Original text in Chinese: 四無量心（慈、悲、喜、捨），亦名四梵住，為佛教最早與最根本的禪修方法之一。根據《清淨道論》的說法，佛陀所教導的禪修方法中有三個必修法門，四無量心便為其中之一，因為它可以消除惡意，平息焦慮，並促進團體的和諧。這個方法不僅能增長修行者的定 (samadhi)，也能幫助解決人際關係問題，使得它成為最適合在家人士修習的禪修方法；此外，它所培養的禪修技巧以及經驗能在進一步作為修行內觀 (vipassana) 的基礎。 醍醐寺特別強調四無量心禪法，因為其不但是所有修行者的基礎法門，也是在修行道路上最關鍵的禪修方法。此禪修營是醍醐寺禪修的必修課程，並為學習其他禪修法門前的先決條件。 And here's the schedule: Dharma Talks are basically classes. The monk is in front of the room and all of the student are sitting in front of him in rows of tables taking notes as he lectures us about the Dharma.

Sincere question for experienced meditators and people who have done more than three retreats in their lives: Do you recommend fasting during meditation retreats? If so, for how long? My retreat is 8 days. Do you recommend bringing instant coffee? I like to start my day with a nice cup of joe. What about caffeinated tea? Such as black tea.

Don't be such a downer, this is spiritual work. Even Leo has done this. https://www.actualized.org/insights/hawaii-retreat-intro https://www.actualized.org/insights/solo-retreat https://www.actualized.org/insights/solo-retreat-notes-feb-2019 https://www.actualized.org/insights/hawaii-solo-retreat-feb-2018-videos

I last week went to dinner with my extended family, who are from Lebanon. Everything went well, I was talking to them about career, a new girlfriend from Europe and all that, and I overall had a nice time. But I created quite a bit of drama when I casually mentioned that I was going to Buddhist meditation retreats. I've posted about this on the forum, but back in May I did a 5-day meditation retreat with two monks from Taiwan, and I loved it. As part of my spiritual growth, I go back to the meditation center every Sunday, I read authentic translations of the Buddha's discourses, and I have a new retreat for eight days planned in late December. So I mentioned this stuff just casually, and my Aunty raised her voice and said, No! No! You can't do that! There were two elder women sitting to the right and left of my Aunty, and they started telling me, ' Hussein, you are Muslim! ' I tried going to my younger woman cousin to talk about what happened, and she didn't take my side at all, and instead was trying to tell me that Islam was peace and to not go back to that place anymore. My Aunt wants me to cancel my meditation retreat, and to delete the pictures I have of the retreat from my phone, because one of the pictures includes a photo I did with a Monk, we were standing, smiling with our arms over each other shoulders while someone else took the picture. A day later I called my Aunt to thank her for inviting me for thanksgiving. I made a promise to myself that I wasn't going to mention religion. We talked a bit and she said how much my elder cousin loved having me. But then during the end of the conversation she said that I was to promise her that I wasn't going to go back to that place [the Buddhist meditation center and temple]. She then said that her and my elder cousin were going to "set me right" [on the right path]. My Dad called me and apparently my Uncle called him to complain, 'why is your son not a Muslim'. My elder cousin is married and has kids, but I think during his youth he went to a special college or school where they taught him deen and fiqh (both concepts from Islam). My Aunt and elder cousin both have my phone number and they're going to try to coordinate with each other to bring me to the Mosque. Before I drove home, they gave me a prayer mat (for salah). Should I go? Just to be polite. Because they loved having me.

LOL This is one of the funniest things I've read on this site so far. "Who needs formal academic education when you have Wikipedia ?" -- Leo Gura

Making Umrah or Hajj pilgrimage. My relatives are currently in Mecca doing this.

Street wear and following fashion trends. Sneaker head culture Any sub culture of any kind.

First retreat:

This video is conformity.

@Joseph Maynor YOU'RE BACK?

Why is your username ‘Hezbollah’? That’s a Lebanese terror group.

Where are you? What country, and if you're in America, what state? What were you convicted for and how long is your sentence? How old are you?

Massive update on family situation. My uncle called me to tell me that he, my other uncle, Dad, and Aunty were all very disappointed in me for "worshipping cows". He was telling me that his kids were leaving tomorrow for Saudi Arabia for Umrah, and he was again insisting that I cancel my upcoming retreat. And the day before that, I spoke with my Aunty on the phone who was telling me that she didn't want me to go on this path. She said that Buddhism was wrong because they don't have a God and worship cows. She was telling me to read the Quran and show up with my elder cousin for Friday prayers. I'm supposed to meet with the family next Friday to the Mosque for Friday prayers. I explained to my uncle why I was doing these meditation retreats. That back in May I was experience an immense amount of anxiety and that I went to the retreat to take care of myself, and I loved it. My Dad calls me and apparently my Uncle told him that I told my uncle that I was depressed and suicidal. The words depressed and suicidal never left my mouth, but thats how my Uncle twisted it.

Yes, this. One-hundred percent a thousand times this.

I wrote this thread, I think this is a pretty good example of conformity.

Hello fellow Lebanese.

I want to go because I love my family but I’m worried that they’re going to try to convert me and are not going to be open minded to Eastern spirituality. I tried opening their minds by introducing Buddhist scripture and (New Age) spiritual books but they shut me down and told me to read the Quran instead. By the way, I am not a Buddhist and most of the literature I read is not Buddhist. But it’s like, they don’t know anything about Eastern religion, Actualized.org, and the New Age. Have never bothered to read any books, talk to any spiritual leaders, or visit any temples. but… They know that it’s wrong, so they don’t have to study it.

Skip to 6:38

We are talking about a socialism success story and proof that it works.

T H A N K Y O U

Yugoslavia was the ideal example of Socialism as it had a unique emphasis on workers' self management. See this paper below: https://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdf/10.1257/jep.5.4.187 And this video: If socialism simply doesn't work, then how do you explain this?

Tea is delicious! I'm currently drinking a DavidsTea 'Buddha's Blend'. Good job British.

I disagree. I think Tito in Yugoslavia provided a better alternative.